Monday, 5th November, 2012
Werder Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs admits that the Bundesliga side did want to sign Kevin De Bruyne outright, having tracked him for a number of years, but they were unable to compete with Chelsea for the midfielder.
De Bruyne did eventually arrive at the German club this summer, but it was by way of a season-long loan deal from Chelsea, with the expectation being that the Belgium international will be heading back to Stamford Bridge for 2013/14.
The former Genk youngster has massively impressed at Werder Bremen, leaving the club ruing their luck at not having beaten Chelsea to his signature.
But, as Allofs explained, when the Champions League winners appeared on the scene, winning the race was impossible.
"We followed Kevin De Bruyne for two or three years", the sporting director told Belgian TV channel RTBF.
"We sent our scouts to scrutinse Belgian football and De Bruyne was very special.
relatedNewsStory"Almost all the reports we received on him were very, very positive.
"Then Chelsea succeeded in getting him.
"He was just too expensive for us."
Werder Bremen would undoubtedly jump at the chance to take De Bruyne on a permanent basis at the end of the season, but the chances of Chelsea cashing in on a midfielder they have yet to enjoy the skills of appear remote.
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